LORD CHANCELLOR SURPRISED STABLE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 200, 25 August 1942, Page 5

LORD CHANCELLOR SURPRISED STABLE

Takanini track watchers were caught unawares last Saturday by Lord Chancellors victory in the second division of the Sylvia Park Handicap. Few anticipated such a forward showing, even though it was universally agreed that he had the makings of a good one. Lord Chancellor accomplished something ou' 'he ordinary to spreadeagle this field of hacks as if they were a mediocre lot; in fact, there can be only one conclusion atl . at ' ,5. nd , that is that the I,r - Standfast Belding is really class and will add further strength to F. Smith's formidable team of three-year-olds for the spring classics.

Golden Valley leaves on Tuesday for Hawera, where the Laekham filly Is engaged in the Waver ley Hack Handicap, in which she will be piloted by S. Waddell. Golden Valley has been going along nicely at Takanini and may show up in her coming engagement. Bronwen will accompany Golden Valley as far as Wanganui, as she is to be mated with the famous sire Coronach.

Pakuranga form will now have thrown some light on the prospects for coming meetings, and one noticed among the beaten division which can be expected to Improve a great deal on his fifth in the Sylvia Park Handicap is the Hunting Song gelding Peter Gregor. This three-year-old lacked condition as he did not have an exhaustive preparation, and he wilted only inside the last furlong after running a nice race behind the leaders throughout the Journey. Two-year-old parades have some value even if the actual result may be entirely different if there was a stake at the end of it. The value attached to Saturday s juvenile jaunt at Ellerslie must have satisfied Takanini trainers with the forwardness of their juveniles, as the Vermeer—Aureola gelding Meermint, Brief and the Oration—Fireclay filly were all prominent at the finish, and some of these were doing their work in the right manner at the end. Proud Fox Worth Following The chances of Proud Fox were extinguished at the start of the Jellicoe Han dicap, and he did not have a hard race afterwards. This may have been all for the best, as the Foxbridge gelding will derive some benefit from the outing, and will be worth following from now on.

Another not favoured by the start of the above-mentioned event was Ascot Bloom. He made up a great deal of the leeway, and the dash displayed suggests strongly that he will race more generously in future. Ascot Bloom has been a trifle disappointing, but Jt must be admitted that he ts looking better than at any previous stage of his career, and in consequence possesses better chances of redeeming himself.

D. J. Burgess sustained a broken collarbone while riding at the recent Grand National meeting, in keeping with the luck he has experienced during recent months.

Noticed In the birdcage at Ellerslie on Saturday was trainer C. Morse, who was making his first appearance for some months. He has had a bad run of illhealth, and it was pleasing to note that at long last he was able to again vi6it headquarters. Now at Takanini

C. V. Macmanemin arrived at Takanini last week with his team of four horses, which includes the promising Sir Simon. Macmanemin has taken over the stables of L. G. Abel, who retired from active participation in the sport some months ago. The well-known apprentice rider H. P. Stewart, who occupied a prominent position in the winning jockeys' list last season, is to make Takanini his headquarters. Originally apprenticed to the Awapuni trainer G. W. New, Stewart is to serve the remainder of his term with C. V. Macmanemin.

H. E. Gray has a recent addition to his team in the shape of a two-year-old by St. Boswells—Rule Britannia, which is rather an attractive youngster.